Catedral Nuestra Señora de La Asunción

Exterior view of the cathedral.

Catedral Nuestra Señora de La Asunción (Cathedral of the Assumption) is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Margarita and is located in La Asunción, Nueva Esparta state, on Isla Margarita, Venezuela. Built in 1570, it is the oldest church in Venezuela.[1]

History

Built between 1570 and 1612, the Catedral Nuestra Señora de La Asunción is the oldest church in Venezuela and was one of the first in the Americas. Its construction was started in 1570 (much before the construction of the cathedral of Santa Ana de Coro) and was never completed.[2] The church was founded by a member of the Dominican order, the priest Juan de Manzanillo. It was later destroyed by French Lutherans, and by the year 1602 the cathedral was reported to be "en ruinas", in ruins. Work for reconstruction of the building began again in 1609, and the cathedral was finally completed eleven years later, in 1621.

Features

Interior view.

Set in the tree lined Plaza Bolivar, the church has a rectangular plan with massive walls as protection against pirate attacks. The main body of the cathedral, which is rectangular in shape, has dimensions of 17 by 48 metres (56 by 157 ft), and the interior is lined with two rows of huge columns in the tuscan style which support the roof. There is a bell tower outside, which is unique and the bells are now preserved in the plaza. One of the most important religious buildings on the Island, the Virgin of La Asunción is worshiped here. The Cathedral has been declared a historical city monument. It has a plain façade and interior, but its left lateral tower, which dates to 1599, is the oldest in the country.[2][3][3][4][5] The façade at the entrance portal of the church is built in the renaissance style.[5] It was considered a model church till the 19th century.[5]

Festival

The most important festival in the Liturgical year is held in mid-August, to celebrate the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. A procession is held and mass offered in the church.[2]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Catedral de La Asuncion.
  1. ↑ Wardrope, William (2003). Venezuela. Gareth Stevens Publishing. p. 59. ISBN 978-0-8368-2369-1.
  2. 1 2 3 Maddicks, Russell (2011). Bradt Travel Guide Venezuela. Bradt Travel Guides. pp. 174–175. ISBN 978-1-84162-299-6.
  3. 1 2 Brushaber, Susan (1997). Venezuela Alive. Hunter Publishing, Inc. p. 138. ISBN 978-1-55650-800-4.
  4. ↑ "Catedral Nuestra Señora de la Asunción" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2013-05-16.
  5. 1 2 3 Showker, Kay (2006). Caribbean Ports Of Call Eastern And Southern Regions. Globe Pequot. p. 377. ISBN 978-0-7627-3885-4.

Coordinates: 11°1′47.02″N 63°52′0.44″W / 11.0297278°N 63.8667889°W / 11.0297278; -63.8667889

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